April 19, 2007 General Synod’s election for primate will feature four candidates

The Anglican Journal profiles the nominees for the election of primate. The new church leader is scheduled to be elected on June 22 by the 300 delegates at the triennial General Synod governing convention, which will meet in Winnipeg from June 19-25. The primate will be officially installed in office the evening of June 25.

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April 19, 2007 Four candidates chosen for election of new primate

Bishops of the Anglican Church of Canada, at their regular spring meeting, on April 19 chose four of their colleagues as candidates for the office of primate, or national archbishop: George Bruce of the Kingston, Ont.-based diocese of Ontario, Fred Hiltz of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Bruce Howe of the London-Ont.-based diocese of Huron and Victoria Matthews of Edmonton.

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April 16, 2007 Williams will meet with U.S. bishops

Ending weeks of speculation and criticism, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said he will meet with bishops in the United States to discuss tensions in the worldwide Anglican church caused by differences over homosexuality.

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April 1, 2007 in other news, CoGS:

Approved a 4.5 per cent increase in pensions to retired and active General Synod pension plan members. The pension committee reported that the market value of the fund as of Dec. 31, 2006 was $651 million and return on investment was 15.7 per cent. The 2006 figure included the transfer of $23 million from the diocese of Montreal’s pension plan and compared with a market value of $565 million as of Dec. 31, 2005.

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April 1, 2007 Church maps could be redrawn

The Council of General Synod (CoGS) voted to bring to General Synod motions that would change the Anglican Church of Canada’s governance and structure, including the way it deals with amendments to its canons (church laws) and the way its provinces and dioceses are organized.

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April 1, 2007 Council paves way for election of special bishops

The Council of General Synod (CoGS) will recommend that the coming General Synod amend the church’s regulations to pave the way for the election “by an appropriate electoral body” of a national indigenous bishop and the bishop ordinary to the Canadian Forces.

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April 1, 2007 Synod to use ‘conversations’ for complex issues

Two blocks of time for “conversations” will be incorporated in the agenda of General Synod this June in Winnipeg, to enable delegates to “experience, learn and discuss” issues affecting their church in “gentle and participatory ways.”

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April 1, 2007 Canadian response asserts autonomy

The Council of General Synod (CoGS) endorsed a response to the Windsor Report that stated Canadians will make decisions around the blessing of same-sex unions at its General Synod “mindful of the common life of the Communion and in response to the leading of the Spirit, as we see it in our own context.”

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April 1, 2007 Synod set to re-examine same-sex blessings

The most intense issue on General Synod’s agenda is expected to be, once again, the church’s view of homosexuality.

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April 1, 2007 Blessings vote to be decided by resolution

Sexuality issues, including whether dioceses may decide for themselves whether to allow the blessing of same-sex unions, will be decided by General Synod through resolutions requiring the approval of a 60 per cent majority of the members of the order of bishops, laity and clergy or 60 per cent of dioceses if a vote by diocese is requested, the Council of General Synod (CoGS) has decided.

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